The programme was introduced to monitor the epidemic in childhood obesity, by weighing and measuring all children as they start primary school and again in their last year.

In many areas, parents receive a letter to let them know the outcome and how healthy their child's weight is.

Some feel surprise and even anger if they are told that their child is overweight.

They have difficulty marrying up the term 'overweight' with the healthy child in front of them.

The lack of recognition is very common.

Media

Another reason for the lack of knowledge may be that the media often portrays and highlights extreme cases of child obesity.

Most children identified by the National Child Measurement Programme do not look obviously overweight.

By comparison to the images shown of very obese children in the media, they look slim.

Yet lesser degrees of being overweight and obesity can be accompanied by health concerns and are a marker for obesity and health problems later in life.

The letter is not intended to make parents feel they have failed in any way.

Information is offered to help them make positive decisions about their child's lifestyle.

Many parents, while not necessarily welcoming the information they receive, have taken it as a 'wake-up call' to ensure that their family become more active and develop healthier attitudes to eating.

Schools have also taken the impetus to make sure that children under their care spend time in a healthier environment with better opportunities for healthy food choices and physical activity.

Lifestyle changes

Once obesity is established, it is extremely difficult to reverse, as most of us know.

Less serious levels of being overweight can more easily be reduced by lifestyle changes.

It is for this reason that it can be so helpful to inform parents when their child's weight is of concern.

Without doubt, the introduction of the National Child Measurement Programme has been controversial, but hopefully most parents will appreciate that it offers the potential for improving children's lives and protecting them from the very real problems that accompany obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

BBC links

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